What are Prism Glasses? Do you need them

What are Prism Glasses?

Prism glasses are usually used by people who experience double vision due to eye movement problems like strabismus. A head injury, stroke, or diabetes can also lead to nerve damage or muscle weakness.

Prism glasses are made with specially designed prism lenses that bend (or refract) light entering the eyes so that it falls at the appropriate spot on the retina, even if the two eyes are not aligned.

A prism by itself has no focusing power and thus cannot correct any refractive errors; a prism "tricks" the eye into believing that an object is in a different location. It allows the eyes to perceive images in a way that allows for single vision, improving binocular vision and reducing double vision, headaches, reading difficulties, and other symptoms that may be caused by misalignment of the eyes.

What is Prism Correction in Glasses?

You may have studied in school how a prism works. When the light enters, the crystal clear pyramid emits a rainbow colour spectrum. But don't get mistaken that prism glasses will work the same and show you the world painted in rainbow colours. Prism glasses help realign the images and manage the double vision problem.

Prisms function by moving the image to the correct alignment for one eye or both eyes.  

The perfect example of this is when one eye is turned outward. A base-in prism can move the image to accommodate that eye's position. Likewise, if an eye sees an image higher than the other eye, a base-down prism can be used to adjust the level of the image in the upward direction. Prism eyeglasses give the right assistance to the brain and help the eyes to see in the proper direction. The properties of the flint glass prism are used to mould the image where the brain is being tricked into visual processing so that the two images your eyes see get fused into one, thus eliminating double vision.

Normal vision depends on your two eyes working together to focus on the same image. Each eye then collects its visual information for processing by your brain. The brain then combines each eye's visual input to create a single image for you to see clearly. Double vision results from misalignment in the two eyes, preventing them from working together to point in the same direction. As a result, the brain fails to accurately process the different visual inputs from both eyes to form a single image. It also results in problems like blurred vision and difficulty judging distances.

Who Needs Prism Glasses?

For people with diplopia or double vision , their eye muscles usually don't work well in sync. These muscles are responsible for eye movements in different directions, such as right, left, up and down. But, when these muscles don't work properly in sync, their eyes cannot focus on the same image. So, one of the symptoms of double vision is that people see two images instead of one.

 Various factors can lead to double vision. If you're facing such an issue, you should immediately see an eye doctor for a better and more accurate diagnosis.

How do Prism Glasses Look?

Prism glasses are the same as prescription glasses in appearance, but they sometimes have one lens that's thicker than the other. If you find this problematic, you should consider getting thick glass frames so they cover the edges of your lenses.

The prism correction is added to the lenses while your glasses have your normal prescription. The prescription is based upon the type of double vision you experience - horizontal, vertical or oblique.

You don't need to wear these glasses unless you have been prescribed them by your eye doctor. Contact your eye doctor immediately if you use a flint glass prism and still experience double vision.

Can prism glasses cause side effects?

Even when you wear prism glasses, you may still experience double vision, irritation and headaches. One of the most common causes of these problems is an expired prescription or misaligned lenses. The lenses can get loose when you wear glasses regularly and need readjusting. Always ensure your prescription is up to date while using prism glasses. If not, it might cause vision-related problems.

One may have problems moving around or in spatial orientation with prism lenses.  It may take some getting used to and / or rehabilitation to start using prism spectacles properly.  

It might take a few days to get used to wearing prism glasses. There's a chance that you will experience the following problems during that time:

• Headache
• Double vision
• Nausea
• Spatial disorientation

Quickly reach your eye doctor if you have any of these symptoms. They may want you to get the frame refit or a new prescription.

The Takeaway

Double vision can be disabling. Some countries prohibit driving if you have one. Some people with diplopia might find Prism glasses an effective non-surgical treatment option. Strabismus surgery is another option if they don't work. Prism glasses can restore your vision and offer an improved quality of life.

Talk to Your Optometrist 

It is very crucial to consult an eye specialist whenever you experience double vision-related problems and get a prescription in the first place. If you're wondering where to buy a prism spectacles with high-quality designer frames, visit the R Kumar Opticians today.